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USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) Commissions in Namesake State

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) commissioned at Port Hueneme aboard Naval Base Ventura County, April 1.

“Littoral Combat Ships are versatile platforms. A successor in heritage to the escort fleets of the Second World War. They are fast, agile, and mission-tailored to operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, they are ideal for integrating into joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support maritime security operations and humanitarian missions around the globe. Our nation needs this great ship—and most of all, the Sailors and Marines who serve on board. USS Santa Barbara, welcome to the Pacific – the locus of America’s future and well-being,”

Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, Cdr. Brian Sparks, commanding officer, Independence-class variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS32), center, Lola Zinke, ships sponsor, and Congresswoman Julia Brownley, prepare to take the stage during the LCS32 Commissioning Ceremony onboard Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), Port Hueneme, Apr. 1, 2023. Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. NBVC is a strategically located Naval installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2D Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 80 tenants. Photo: U.S. Navy Mass Communication 1st Class Douglas "Evan" Parker
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, Cdr. Brian Sparks, commanding officer, Independence-class variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS32), center, Lola Zinke, ships sponsor, and Congresswoman Julia Brownley, prepare to take the stage during the LCS32 Commissioning Ceremony onboard Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), Port Hueneme, Apr. 1, 2023. Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. NBVC is a strategically located Naval installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2D Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 80 tenants. Photo: U.S. Navy Mass Communication 1st Class Douglas “Evan” Parker

Christened on Oct. 16, 2021, USS Santa Barbara departed Austal USA’s Mobile, Al., shipyard in late 2022. After operating up and down the east coast, the ship crossed the Panama Canal before arriving at its homeport Jan. 18.

“The Sailors running aboard and bringing USS Santa Barbara to life during this commissioning ceremony highlights the most important part of a ship – her crew, our Santa Barbara Sailors are resilient and determined, ready to go over-the-horizon and execute operational tasking. This ceremony is the culmination of all of the hard work completed by our Sailors have done to turn this Pre-Commissioning Unit into a United States Ship.”

Cmdr. Brian Sparks, Commanding Officer of Santa Barbara.

In the week leading up to the commissioning ceremony, the Santa Barbara’s crew spent time with their ship’s sponsor, Santa Barbara-native Lolita Zinke, and participated in community relations events in their namesake city to build a strong connection with their namesake community.

“May this proclamation serve as a reminder to you and the ship’s company that, from this day forward, every crew member of the USS SANTA BARBARA will be recognized and welcomed as honorary members of the Santa Barbara community.”

Mayor Randy Rowse, City of Santa Barbara

Other ships in the Independence-variant, USS Charleston (LCS 18), USS Oakland (LCS 24), and USS Mobile (LCS 26) are currently conducting forward presence missions in the Indo-Pacific.

Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.

Sailors assigned to the Independence-class variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS32), "Man the Ship" during her Commissioning Ceremony onboard Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), Port Hueneme, Apr. 1, 2023. Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. NBVC is a strategically located Naval installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2D Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 80 tenants. 
 Photo: U.S. Navy Mass Communication 1st Class Douglas "Evan" Parker
Sailors assigned to the Independence-class variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS32), “Man the Ship” during her Commissioning Ceremony onboard Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), Port Hueneme, Apr. 1, 2023. Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. NBVC is a strategically located Naval installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2D Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 80 tenants. Photo: U.S. Navy Mass Communication 1st Class Douglas “Evan” Parker
SourceU.S. Navy

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